Richard Haskell, PhD, is a driven business professional and energetic innovator in higher education. Currently serving as the Associate Dean and Director of Academic Programs in the Western Governors University School of Business (WGU) he is proudly not a career academic. After a fulfilling 30-year career in finance and investments he earned masters and doctoral degrees in Economics at the University of Utah, after which he spent 10 years as a Professor of Finance in Westminster University's Bill & Vieve Gore School of Business and the Director of the Westminster Center for Financial Wellness. At WGU since August 2025, he is now responsible for the business school’s finance and supply chain management programs.
His work extends beyond research and the classroom as he engages with students and colleagues to build non-traditional, creative programs through which students and professionals learn about modern finance and management concepts. The programs he directs guide learners through modern financial models, metrics and markets and explorations of supply chain and operations management applications. His students engage public and private capital markets and businesses through practical experiences and highly applicable project development. Together, these provide much needed resources to businesses large and small but have a particular focus towards providing for the needs of businesses owned by low-income, female-led, underrepresented and otherwise marginalized households.
Haskell continues to share his business experience with adult learners through the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program Synchrony Bank’s Banking on Women program. Further, he and his students have developed and teach non-matriculated, non-credit bearing introductory courses in accounting, finance, investment, economics, entrepreneurship and business planning through community learning centers in the region.
Haskell has a PhD and MS in Economics from the University of Utah, and BS in Family Financial Planning and Counseling from Brigham Young University. Though clearly passionate about the disciplines of finance and economics, his true passions are his wife, children and grandchildren.
"I've been married to my beautiful and patient wife since 1980, have four children and a growing number of grandchildren and in-law children spread from Virginia to Salt Lake City. I'm actively involved in my church and serve on the boards of local charitable foundations. When I have spare time I spend it hiking, in my shop building or tinkering with my cars, in my yard tending my ponds and gardens, and entertaining and cooking for loved ones and guests. My life is full to say the very least and I'm grateful for it. I'm one of those fortunate men who's allowed to spend time doing what I love."